Projo College Hoops

By KEVIN McNAMARA

Two weeks from tomorrow, the Big East Conference schedule begins for the Providence Friars.

That may be a bit of a scary proposition for PC which owns a 6-3 record but has struggled to score against strong teams and owns defensive numbers (71.4 ppg and 44% FG allowed) that are dead last among Big East teams.

Three games remain before the Red Storm comes to town but the Friars have a great chance to put together a five-game win streak. PC hosts Jackson State (1-8) Wednesday and then travels to Boston College Saturday. The BC game will be the toughest of the five, if only because it comes on the road, but the Friars have beaten the Eagles two straight years with much of this year's team doing much of the damage.

The Friars host Bryant next Monday in what should be an easy win. A sweep of those three games would bring the team's non-league record to a more-than-respectable 9-3.

PC then opens Big East play against SJU and DePaul. They are two of the weakest teams in the conference.

Keno Davis said today that the 10-day exam break has helped Geoff McDermott (ankle) and Sharaud Curry (foot) heal some physical maladies, Alex Kellogg (sore knee) continues to struggle with pain and fluid buildup. Davis said he has not made a final decision on the status of forwards Bilal Dixon and Jamine Peterson, in part because of Kellogg's status. Both Dixon and Peterson are likely redshirts all season but they continue to play well in practice and Davis is concerned about Kellogg's status.

``We won't see Alex until St. John's. That's the plan,'' said Davis. ``We'll try to get him rest for the next three games because we don't want anything to set him back. We need Alex. He has a little more experience (than Dixon, a freshman) and I don't know if we win the Charlotte game without him. He's physically ready to play in the Big East.''

Davis said he'll have to make a final decision on the redshirts by the St. John's game.

More on PC-Jackson State in Wednesday's Journal.

 Tags  Alex Kellogg Bilal Dixon PC Basketball

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